The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-15


cause she was afraid Thomas would kill her
father or her father him.
TOO HORRIBLE TO MENTION.
Willie knew of the indecent practice Of
his own knowledge. The same thing &C.
CURED after that, and witness sister broke
in their door. Her mother and sister came
in the room and found out what Thomas
was doing. They wanted TO take witness
out of the room, but Thomas would not let
her go. Willie again asked her
TO leave Thomas. Witness also
stated that Thomas was guilty of other bad
treatment of a character too horrible to
mention. These things occurred, the last
time, about week before his death Wit
ness had to receive medical treatment as the
result of Thomas cruelty and Thomas
would not pay for the medicines. On the
morning of the killing Thomas tried to
throw her out of the window and struck her
in the face with broom. Witness went
back to the room, and Thomas cursed her
and told her to leave the room. Witness
then went TO her mothers to have some pies
made, and her mother and sister learned OF
his bad treatment. Sunday, two weeks be
fore he was killed, Thomas threw three
bottles of beer at her because she did not
have dinner ready when he wanted it. Wit
ness sat on the door step and Thomas came
down and kicked her on the head. At the
time of the killing witness heard Willie in the
hall, met him and asked him if he had
brought the pies, and witness returned to
the kitchen, thinking Willie had gone out
of the front door She heard a shot and ran
into the hall. She met Willie coming down
stairs and witness went up to the bedroom
and found Thomas sitting on the bed. Wit
ness ran down stairs and called Mrs Muir
ply and returned to the room. Thomas
was dead Thomas had been arrested. last
winter for creating a disturbance in Kelley
saloon.
A SENSATIONAL CONFESSION.
Cross examined by Mr.. duBignon, wit
ness said Willie was ID years old. His father
was William A. Wingard, who is now living
in Aiken, n. c., but witness had not heard
of him for nine years, and thought he was
dead when she married Thomas. Witness
left Vineyard because Of neglect and cruel
treatment. Witness heard last Christmas
that Wingard was alive, but continued to
live with Thomas Wingard made
affidavits that he had led
witness to believe that he was dead. He
was at witness fathers house last Christ
mas. Witness father once lived in Au
gusta, and killed a man while there.
Objected to by Mr.. Adams. Mr.. duBig
non said he expected to show that the kill
ing was conspiracy on the part of Mrs.
Thomas father-Tant-and Willie Win
gard. After discussion Judge Adams decided
to sustain the objection. Witness had loved
her husband but his treatment was such
that she ceased to love him a long time ago.
Witness had told DR.. Lincoln that she loved
her husband, but that was a joke. She did
not tell DIR. Lincoln that she was suffering
from rheumatism. Witness did not testify
toindecent treatment at the coroner's inquest
and denied that she had said, my God,
did not expect this to come SO soon" after
Thomas was shot. Witness did not love
her husband after his treatment, but he
threatened to kill her if she divulged what
she had done She had told what Thomas
did to a lady friend and to her mother and
sister She was not afraid to divulge the
secret because she knew that Thomas would
never hear of it, but she was afraid to leave
him.
FIVE MONTHS AFTER MARRIAGE.
The first cruel treatment of Thomas to
witness was five months after their mar
riage Witness son did not know of that
trouble, which was in Florida. Thomas
treated witness brutally every Saturday
night and Sunday morning while they were
at Mrs. MurphyS She never appealed to
Mr.. Murphy for protection except once
when she bought load of wood;
Thomas refused to pay for the wood
and raised row and abused her Witness
told the Murphys of Thomas refusal to pay
for the wood, but not of his abuse. On the
day of the killing witness went to her moth
ers house and told of Thomas treatment.
She saw Willie when he brought the pies,
but did not see him at her mothers house.
There was nothing about Willie to excite her
suspicion when she saw him in the hall before
the shooting. He was cool and collected.
On the redirect examination witness said
hon. h,tJI lafN hos,
her second boy was born. He came back
and wanted her to go to Carolina and live
with him, but witness refused to leave the
State. After that she heard he was dead, and
did not know for nine years that he was alive.
SERIOUS OBJECTION.
James E. Tant, the father of Mrs Thomas,
testified that his daughter first married Viii
liam Wingard in Augusta, Ga, and they
separated when the youngest son was an
infant She married Thomas three years
ago. She did not at the time
know that Wingard was alive, and
never heard of it until last winter,
when he came here to get his wife TO sign a
paper conveying certain property likely to
come to him to the two boys. 1t was UNI
derstOod that Wingard was dead until he
appeared here.
Mr. duBignon objected to this testimony
on the ground that when he was crOSs-exam-
lining Mrs. Thomas on that point, Mr. Adams
said that he had no witness in court. Mr.. Adj
ans said that it had not occurred to him
that Mr. Tant would come under the rule,
and the Supreme Court had held that
it was the discretion of the court to exclude,
or permit a witness remain. Mr.. Tant was
the one who had seen Mr.. Adams about the
case and he was the grandfather of the hoy
Mr.. Adams said he knew Mr.. Tant was in
the room, and he knew that the Solicitor
saw him; of course he had no intention of
misleading the Solicitor. Judge Adams
said that in view of the character of the
case and the statement made he would adj
NIT the testimony.
Mr. Tant continued, saying that after the
separation he took both the boys and they
had lived with him ever since and no one
had ever had control of them except him
self They had never lived with Thomas
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas had lived at his house
sixteen out of the thirty three months they
were married.
WHEN HE HEARD OF THE KILLING
He did not know of Thomas cruel treat
ment when they were in his house; il Was
that was known to Willie until after the
killing. He first learned of the killing of
Thomas when he was sitting on Mr. Kelly's
went to him, called him to one side and told
him he had shot Thomas. Witness asked
him what for, and Willie said because of
cruel treatment to his mother. Willie then
asked witness to go with him to the barracks,
as he did not want TO be
hunted by the police. Witness did not know
that Willie NvnS goinoy tO kill Thomas. dill